The Golden State has reached a poverty rate that is now twice as bad as West Virginiaâ€™s and substantially worse than the rates of poverty in Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and Texas, according to a new measure of poverty developed by the federal Census Bureau.

The new measure, however, also incorporates a controversial calculation of relative equality that demotes states, including California, that have wide gaps between wealthy people and people with less than one-third of state residentsâ€™ average income.

Actually, California is in real dire straights. They however continue to push through these referendums and ballot initiatives that aren't viable. The voting base there is polluted by the "gimme" crowd. They will continue to vote for referendums they can't afford, because they know the government will bail them out. Until it cannot any longer. Which might be closer than they think.

CA is still working out from under years of Republican intransigence. It was only in this election that they took control of their legislature so that Republicans can no longer block progress. The Republicans were able to block many Democratic initiatives, but that will no longer be the case. The Democrats will hopefully start addressing poverty soon.

On the bright side, since Jerry Brown got elected, replacing his Republican predecessor:

Californiaâ€™s chronic budget shortfalls that hobbled the most populous U.S. state for a decade may give way to surpluses thanks to voter approval of Governor Jerry Brownâ€™s tax increases, the stateâ€™s independent fiscal analyst said.

Californiaâ€™s chronic budget shortfalls that hobbled the most populous U.S. state for a decade may give way to surpluses thanks to voter approval of Governor Jerry Brownâ€™s tax increases, the stateâ€™s independent fiscal analyst said.

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11/15/3918200/californias-budget-shows-signs.html
[FONT=&quot]>>>Those numbers, however, rely on assumptions that few Capitol veterans expect to hold â€“ namely that Democratic lawmakers will keep programs at current spending levels after years of forcing allies to accept cuts and no cost-of-living increases. It also assumes steady economic growth and no broad federal tax hikes or deep spending cuts.<<<[/FONT]

Those are geological places, they don't move. Do you want to bring some facts about the burgeoning prosperity of the fertile California landscape , or are you going to keep your head buried in the sand?

California is burdened by the policies of former governors who pushed the three strike rule and the war on drugs, so much so the prison system consumes 10% of the state budget...

There were plans to build 6 billion dollars of new prisons, however it has now been pared by Governor Brown to 2.8 billion..

There were times that cities would welcome new prisons, as they are such a "positive" influence on the local economy..

That does not include the legacy costs for all of the people who have retired and will retire, never mind the caring of geriatric prisoners who cannot be paroled.. the unintended consequences of the war on crime.

California is burdened by the policies of former governors who pushed the three strike rule and the war on drugs, so much so the prison system consumes 10% of the state budget...

There were plans to build 6 billion dollars of new prisons, however it has now been pared by Governor Brown to 2.8 billion..

There were times that cities would welcome new prisons, as they are such a "positive" influence on the local economy..

That does not include the legacy costs for all of the people who have retired and will retire, never mind the caring of geriatric prisoners who cannot be paroled.. the unintended consequences of the war on crime.

Click to expand...

I hadn't even thought about that, thanks for sharing. I think recently illegal immigration has burdened their welfare system, too.